Products Description of Sodium Methoxide CAS#124-41-4
Sodium methoxide (CH3ONa) is a potent alkaline alkoxide generated from methanol, serving as a core basic reagent for diverse organic synthesis reactions. This chemical is commonly preserved by dissolving in alcoholic solvents including methanol and ethanol, while it only forms suspended particles in ether solvents. Extremely hygroscopic in nature, it readily undergoes hydrolysis when exposed to water, yielding methanol and sodium hydroxide as final products.
Available in both solid and liquid commercial grades, sodium methoxide features distinct physical properties for different forms. The liquid type is a colorless to pale yellow viscous solution with an active ingredient content ranging from 27.5-31%. It is flammable, explosive and oxygen-sensitive, fully soluble in methanol and ethanol yet insoluble in aromatic solvents such as benzene and toluene. It starts thermal decomposition in ambient air at temperatures exceeding 126.6°C, and exhibits strong irritation and corrosiveness. By contrast, solid sodium methoxide appears as colorless amorphous powder, sharing consistent chemical reactivity with the liquid form, including water hydrolysis and high-temperature decomposition characteristics.
Sodium Methoxide Chemical Properties
| Melting point | -98 °C |
| Boiling point | 65 °C |
| density | 0.97 g/mL at 20 °C |
| vapor density | 1.1 (vs air) |
| vapor pressure | 50 mm Hg ( 20 °C) |
| refractive index | 1.37 |
| Fp | 11 °C |
| storage temp. | Store at +5°C to +30°C. |
| solubility | Miscible with ethanol, methanol, fats and esters.Immiscible with hydrocarbons and organic solvents. |
| form | Powder |
| pka | 15.17[at 20 ℃] |
| color | White to off-white |
| Specific Gravity | 0.945 |
| explosive limit | 0.36 |
| Water Solubility | reacts |
| Sensitive | Moisture Sensitive |
| Hydrolytic Sensitivity | 8: reacts rapidly with moisture, water, protic solvents |
| Merck | 148643 |
| BRN | 3592982 |
| Dielectric constant | 1.5（Ambient） |
| Exposure limits | ACGIH: Ceiling 2 mg/m3 |
| OSHA: TWA 2 mg/m3 | |
| NIOSH: IDLH 10 mg/m3; Ceiling 2 mg/m3 | |
| Stability: | Stability Highly flammable. Reacts violently with water. Keep container dry. Incompatible with water, acids, chlorinated solvents. |
| InChIKey | WQDUMFSSJAZKTM-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
| LogP | -0.77 at 25℃ |
| CAS DataBase Reference | 124-41-4(CAS DataBase Reference) |
| NIST Chemistry Reference | Sodium methoxide(124-41-4) |
| EPA Substance Registry System | Sodium methoxide (124-41-4) |
| Hazard Codes | F,T,C |
| Risk Statements | 11-23/24/25-34-39/23/24/25-36/38-14-36/37/38-22-10 |
| Safety Statements | 8-16-26-43-45-7-36/37-7/8-36/37/39 |
| RIDADR | UN 1431 4.2/PG 2 |
| WGK Germany | 1 |
| RTECS | PC3570000 |
| F | 46286 |
| Autoignition Temperature | 878 °F |
| TSCA | Yes |
| HazardClass | 4.2 |
| PackingGroup | II |
| HS Code | 29051900 |
| Hazardous Substances Data | 124-41-4(Hazardous Substances Data) |
| Toxicity | LD50 orally in Rabbit: 2037 mg/kg LD50 dermal Rat > 2000 mg/kg |
Product Application of Sodium Methoxide CAS#124-41-4
Sodium methoxide acts as a high-efficiency condensation agent, strong alkaline catalyst and methoxylation reagent in industrial synthesis. It is extensively utilized in pharmaceutical manufacturing for the preparation of vitamin A, vitamin B1, sulfadiazine and various other medical intermediates and finished drugs. In addition, it is adopted in small-batch production processes for agrochemical and pesticide products.
This chemical also functions as a professional catalytic additive in edible fat and oil refinement, especially for lard processing, and can be applied as a laboratory analytical reagent. With superior catalytic performance, it finds wide applicability across pharmaceuticals, flavors, dyes and fine chemical industries. It supports various organic synthesis routes, methoxylation reactions, pesticide formulation, edible oil processing and routine laboratory analysis.
